'Tis the Season for PUMPKIN BEER!

As an employee of the alcohol industry, I feel semi-obligated to partake in industry-related research outside of the office... (a sly grin spreads across her face). This season, my industry research has centered around one particular style of beer... the Pumpkin Beer!

I worked extra hard this fall and imbibed seven different pumpkin beers! I am now reporting back to you with my critiques of each one...

Southern Tier Pumking: DELICIOUS! The aroma smells like gingerbread and the taste is extra sweet, grainy & festive.

Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale: Hearty & spicy with just the right amount of sweetness.

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale: Quite tasty! Unique for a pumpkin beer since it's based off of a brown ale. A great beer to pair with food or drink on its own.

Terrapin Pumpkinfest: Fresh pumpkin flavors are present in this Pumpkin Lager with just the right amount of spice.

Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat: A very nice fall offering! Perfectly spiced and sweetened.

Shipyard Bourbon Barrel Aged Smashed Pumpkin: A whopper of a beer at 9% ABV, this is hearty, sweet and very satisfying.

New Belgium Pumpkick: A new seasonal this year, Pumpkick is a light offering gently spiced with pumpkin flavor.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there any try some of these delightful seasonal ales before they're gone and replaced by winter stouts!

Baltimore Marathon 2013

Today was a tiring yet exciting day as I ran the 2013 Baltimore Marathon! As some of you readers may remember, I ran the Marine Corps Marathon last year and finished in 4:43:15. Today on the more challenging and hilly Baltimore course, I finished in 4:24:30 knocking almost 20 minutes off my time!

Brian and I drove up to Baltimore yesterday and had some fun frolicking around the city. We visited Baltimore's Visionary Art Museum and saw some incredible colorful and unique sculptures. (My favorite, of course, being the giant shiny Christmas Tree)...

Per pre-race tradition I painted my nails a bright & happy color and spiced things up by adding an "accent" nail. (Possibly a good luck charm? I must try again in the future)...

It was a successful weekend of running, touring, & spending some quality time with my man!

It's the Little Things...

Here are a couple of things that have made me smile recently...

Flowers that Brian bought me after my 20 mile race a few weeks ago...

Giant Hot-Dog costumes...

 And matching Hot-Dog costumes for our furry friends!

 A litter of sweet & playful Border Collie puppies at a local animal shelter...

 Artfully & masterly crafted seaweed salads...

 And festive earrings I picked up at the Crafty Bastards festival last weekend at Union Market...

Cameron & Louise's Wedding 9.21.13

It was another wedding weekend for two of our friends here in the DC area! Cameron and Louise had there ceremony yesterday afternoon despite the rainy weather in Frederick, MD at an old farm house called Walker's Overlook.

Here are some fun pictures from the ceremony and reception. (My favorite addition to the evening was definitely the Harry Potter cake topper!)

Fall Has Fallen!

I woke up the other day and stepped outside to a chilly, 60-degree morning settling over DC. It has arrived, dear readers. FALL IS IN THE AIR!

My favorite of all the seasons, fall is the perfect transition between way-too-hot summer days and way-too-cold winter months. Here are my favorite things about this king of all seasons...

1) Pumpkin-Flavored EVERYTHING!

If you don't binge on pumpkin-flavored foods from September-November, something is seriously wrong with your taste-buds. (Please, get that shit checked out). You should spend these precious months eating pumpkin bread, pumpkin Hershey's kisses, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin beer, pumpkin pie, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin pancakes, (the list goes on...)

Click here to find a list of PUMPKIN recipes courtesy of Pinterest

2) The Return of the Boots!

It is now fashionable to find the boots you put away last April and dust them off to once again adorn your precious feet. These beautiful shoes keep half of your legs warm and, let's be honest, are super cute.

3) Halloween (And frequent Hocus Pocus airings)

Yes, I DO love candy corn and caramel apples and dressing up in a cute costume once a year. Halloween is the BEST! It marks the start of the "Q4 Holiday Trifecta" (Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas) and you get to carve whatever you want into giant orange gourds. It also gives you the opportunity to repeatedly watch Hocus Pocus, (which many of us would watch all-year long if it was socially acceptable).

4) MY BIRTHDAY!

I turn another year older every November 11th. This year I am asking for the fish tank from Finding Nemo and lots of cash. I also would like a birthday dinner at Rustico equipped with risotto tots, homemade pizza & lots of mini beers. Please mark your calendars :)

5) Fall Long-Distance Races!

Last fall I ran the Marine Corps Marathon . This year I'm running the Revenge of the Penguins 20-Miler along the C&O Canal in DC. The race is next weekend and I've been training hard all summer long. In getting pumped to start the carbo-load process this week. (NOM NOM NOM).

Cheers to fall!

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day! And what a happy weekend it is. We are all given an extra weekend day to do anything we want! Here are some fun things you should be sure to do this weekend...

Have a delightful outdoor happy hour equipped with delicious wine and snacks!

 Your body & mind will be very happy afterward.

 Buy some beautiful, colorful flowers at a local farmer's market!

 Make some hard-boil eggs and put smiles on their faces :)

Celebrate September with a Caramel Apple Cupcake! (Now being served @ Georgetown Cupcake)

DO NOT watch this video of Miley Cyrus at the VMAs. It will destroy your image of this Disney superstar forever.

Only click on me if you're drunk or have a very strong gag reflex

HAPPY LABOR DAY!

Best Man/MOH Speeches (My New Business)

My cousin was the best man in a wedding this past weekend. Four days before the wedding, he mentioned to me that he hadn't started writing his best man speech. Having never even met the couple, cousin Jimmy enlisted my help to write a memorable speech that would entertain the wedding guests.

I asked him a few questions about his experiences with the bride & groom and about good times they had together growing up. His sister recorded the speech so that I am able to share it here with you today.

I'm thinking about starting a business writing speeches for Best Men & MOHs. I think this could be the next big thing! Enjoy...

Youtube Link to Jimmy's Best Man Speech (Ross Wedding)